Associate Professor Jeff Foote

BTech(Hons) MTech(Hons) (Massey) DPH(Dist) PGCertPH (Otago) PhD (Massey)
Associate Professor in Operations Management

Room: OBS 6.12
Tel +64 3 479 5196
Email jeff.foote@otago.ac.nz

Jeff Foote teaches operations management, social responsibility and systems thinking. His research focuses on the application of systemic and participative methods to address ‘wicked problems’ in areas such as healthcare quality, sexual violence prevention, and freshwater management. He is an applied researcher focusing on interdisciplinary and bicultural research. Jeff has undertaken research and consulting projects for central and local government, non-government organisations, business and hāpu. Jeff is an active member of Te Maea: Māori Economy and Enterprise Network.

Teaching Responsibilities

Jeff's teaching includes:

BSNS 411 Business Principles for the 21st Century
MANT 251 Managing Organisations
MANT 450 Governance and Social Responsibility
MANT 447 Contemporary Issues in Sustainable Business
BDBA 912 Strategy and Growth

Supervision

Jeff is interested in supervising students with interests in the following areas:

The application of systems thinking and problem-structuring methodologies such as Boundary Critique, Soft Systems Methodology, Interactive Planning, Viable System Model, Critical Systems Heuristics and Strategic Choice
Healthcare quality improvement
Service dominant logic and service ecosystems
Corporate social responsibility
Theory of Constraints’ thinking processes

Current supervision

Jeff is supervising the following students:

PhD

Mohammad Alshadiefat – Sustainability of quality improvement in healthcare
Supervisors: Richard Greatbanks and Jeff Foote
Kaylē Baker – To transition or sustain? Understanding how neoliberal capitalist ideology shapes sustainability principles, practices and policy within the New Zealand regime
Supervisors: Jeff Foote and Jekope Maiono
Nigel Brown – Power, policy and practice in supply chains: unravelling strategic action fields in social housing construction
Supervisors: Lincoln Wood and Jeff Foote
Chen Gao Chen – Business model innovation in intelligent aged care in China
Supervisors: Richard Greatbanks and Jeff Foote
Renee Lawson – Developing a culturally responsive performance measurement system for funding contract reporting in Aotearoa, New Zealand’s Addiction Sector
Supervisors: Jeff Foote, Gareth Treharne, Richard Greatbanks and Takurua Tawera
Sequoia Short – Tikanga of social procurement
Supervisors: Katharina Ruckstuhl and Jeff Foote

Completed

Farhana Firoz – Mumpreneurs’ well-being
Supervisors: Diane Ruwhiu and Jeff Foote

DBA

Kylie Campbell-Clarke - Mothers matter: how lived experiences can inform change in perinatal mental health care management
Supervisors: Jeff Foote and Michelle Leach; Advisor: Tracie Leckie
Morne Cross – The application of service dominant logic to procurement services
Supervisors: Jeff Foote and Lincoln Wood
Amanaki Misa - Pacific children’s engagement with Christchurch community dental service
Supervisors: Robin Gauld, Jeff Foote and Losa Moata’ane
Daniel Norris – The Development of Chronic Unease in Hazardous Industry Leaders
Supervisors: Jeff Foote and Richard Greatbanks
Vicky Rombouts – Understanding behavioural drivers of information manipulation: influencing capital allocation decisions
Supervisors: Jeff Foote, Nathan Berg and Piet Beukman
Gihwan Song – The role of health management and patient autonomy in cancer care
Supervisors: Jeff Foote and Kirsten Roberston; Advisor: Tracie Leckie

Completed

Sharen Paine – The application of the Viable System Model to the management of specialist health services
Supervisor: Jeff Foote
Peter Sinclair – Complexity of concrete systems: a socio-technical perspective on quality improvement
Supervisors: Lincoln Wood and Jeff Foote

MCom

Chris Eastham – The features of a prison unit in Aotearoa
Supervisors: Jeff Foote and Fiona Edgar

MA

Completed

Jorden Doughtery – Theory driven sexual violence prevention
Supervisors: Melanie Beres and Jeff Foote

Research Interests

Jeff's research interests are:

Systems thinking and problem structuring
Systemic service design
Reorientation of health services
Systems approaches to sexual violence prevention
Collaborative processes in freshwater management
Interdisciplinary and bi-cultural project work

Externally funded projects (current)

Co-Principal Investigator (with Edmond Fehoko [co-PI], Andrea Clark, Takurua Tawera and Renee Lawson), “Should I stay or should I go? Systemic analysis of barriers and enablers to access to problem gambling services”, funded by Te Whatu Ora, 2024 – 2025
Associate Investigator (with Andrea Clark [PI], Edmond Fehoko, Kirsten Roberston and Marara Rogers-Koroheke), “Co-designing co-commissioning with and for mental health services”, funded by the Health Research Council, 2024 – 2025.
Associate Investigator (with Mona Koushan [PI], Lincoln Wood, Tyron Love, Abtin Maghsoodi, Matthew Parsons and Janine Cochrane), “System-wide perspective on surgical delays: ethnicity and socioeconomic factors”, funded by the Health Research Council, 2023 – 2024

Publications

Paine, S., Foote, J., & Gauld, R. (2025). Principles for embedding learning and adaptation into New Zealand health system functioning: The example of the Viable System Model. New Zealand Medical Journal/Te ara tika o te hauora hapori, 138(1608), 118-128. Retrieved from https://www.nzmj.org.nz/ Journal - Research Other

Norris, D., & Foote, J. (2024). Integrated risk and resilience for complex system governance: Renewing the value of algedonic signal warnings. Proceedings of the 37th Australian & New Zealand Academy of Management (ANZAM) Conference. (pp. 443-463). Retrieved from https://anzamconference.org/ Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Full paper

Norris, D., Foote, J., & Greatbanks, R. (2024). Mode 2 critical systems practice for complex safety decisions: Reflections from New Zealand's dairy industry. Systems Research & Behavioral Science. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1002/sres.3083 Journal - Research Article

Hazelhurst, T., Foote, J., & Norris, D. (2024). Dollars and sense: Reviewing industry implementation of the climate-related disclosures mandate in New Zealand. European Journal of Sustainable Development, 13(3), 1-23. doi: 10.14207/ejsd.2024.v13n3p1 Journal - Research Article

Fehoko, E., & Foote, J. (2024, July). Systemic mapping of barriers to generate solutions for equitable access to problem-gambling services in Aotearoa, New Zealand. Verbal presentation at the International Gambling Conference, Auckland, New Zealand. Conference Contribution - Verbal presentation and other Conference outputs

2025

Journal - Research Other

2024

Journal - Research Article

Paine, S., & Foote, J. (2024). Utilising VSM insights to address health system disconnects: Introducing three novel organisational pathologies. Kybernetes. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1108/K-11-2023-2450

Akmal, A., Podgorodnichenko, N., Greatbanks, R., Foote, J., Stokes, T., & Gauld, R. (2024). Towards the development of a system-wide quality improvement maturity model: A synthesis using systematic review and expert opinion. International Journal of Lean Six Sigma, 15(3), 503-540. doi: 10.1108/IJLSS-06-2021-0107

Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Full paper

Conference Contribution - Verbal presentation and other Conference outputs

2022

Journal - Research Article

Akmal, A., Podgorodnichenko, N., Stokes, T., Foote, J., Greatbanks, R., & Gauld, R. (2022). What makes an effective quality improvement manager? A qualitative study in the New Zealand health system. BMC Health Services Research, 22, 50. doi: 10.1186/s12913-021-07433-w

Kirk, N., Robson-Williams, M., Bammer, G., Foote, J., Butcher, L., Deans, N., … Young, J. (2022). Where to for collaboration in land and water policy development in Aotearoa New Zealand? Guidance for authorising agencies. Kōtuitui, 17(2), 165-184. doi: 10.1080/1177083X.2021.1956979

Akmal, A., Foote, J., Podgorodnichenko, N., Greatbanks, R., & Gauld, R. (2022). Understanding resistance in lean implementation in healthcare environments: An institutional logics perspective. Production Planning & Control, 33(4), 356-370. doi: 10.1080/09537287.2020.1823510

Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract

Foote, J., & Nicholas, G. (2022). Designing for system and social/political viability in nation-scale systemic interventions: A New Zealand example to address family violence. Journal of the International Society for the Systems Sciences, 66(1), 3915. Retrieved from https://journals.isss.org

2021

Journal - Research Article

Ruckstuhl, K., Short, S., & Foote, J. (2021). Assessing the Labour Government's new procurement approach through a Māori economic justice perspective. Aotearoa New Zealand Social Work, 33(4), 47-54.

Hepi, M., Foote, J., Ahuriri-Driscoll, A., Rogers-Koroheke, M., Taimona, H., & Clark, A. (2021). Enhancing cross-cultural evaluation practice through kaupapa Māori evaluation and boundary critique: Insights from Aotearoa New Zealand. New Directions for Evaluation, (170), 51-65. doi: 10.1002/ev.20457

Akmal, A., Podgorodnichenko, N., Foote, J., Greatbanks, R., Stokes, T., & Gauld, R. (2021). Why is quality improvement so challenging? A Viable Systems Model perspective to understand the frustrations of healthcare quality improvement managers. Health Policy, 125, 658-664. doi: 10.1016/j.healthpol.2021.03.015

Harding, T., Oetzel, J. G., Foote, J., & Hepi, M. (2021). Perceptions of co-designing health promotion interventions with Indigenous communities in New Zealand. Health Promotion International, 36, 964-975. doi: 10.1093/heapro/daaa128

Oakden, J., Walton, M., & Foote, J. (2021). Contracting public health and social services: Insights from complexity theory for Aotearoa New Zealand. Kōtuitui, 16(1), 180-195. doi: 10.1080/1177083X.2020.1822422

Nicholas, G., & Foote, J. (2021). Interpreting practice: Producing practical wisdom from qualitative study of practitioner experience. International Journal of Social Research Methodology, 24(3), 369-379. doi: 10.1080/13645579.2020.1799635

Journal - Research Other

Foote, J., Midgley, G., Ahuriri-Driscoll, A., Hepi, M., & Earl-Goulet, J. (2021). Systemic evaluation of community environmental management programmes [Decision support]. European Journal of Operational Research, 288, 207-224. doi: 10.1016/j.ejor.2020.05.019

Conference Contribution - Verbal presentation and other Conference outputs

Garry, T., Foote, J., Wilkes, J., Fraser, M., & Jourdin, H. (2021, June). The value of applied research and knowledge transfer beyond universities. Panel discussion at the Otago Business School DBA Conference, Dunedin, New Zealand.

2020

Journal - Research Article

Akmal, A., Greatbanks, R., & Foote, J. (2020). Lean thinking in healthcare: Findings from a systematic literature network and bibliometric analysis. Health Policy, 124, 615-627. doi: 10.1016/j.healthpol.2020.04.008

Nicholas, G., Srinivasan, M. S., Beechener, S., Foote, J., Robson-Williams, M., & FitzHerbert, S. (2020). Transferring the impacts of pilot-scale studies to other scales: Understanding the role of non-biophysical factors using field-based irrigation studies. Agricultural Water Management, 233, 106075. doi: 10.1016/j.agwat.2020.106075

Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract

Greatbanks, R., Akmal, A., Foote, J., Wood, L., & Podgorodnichenko, N. (2020). Can pull demand be applied within health systems pathways? Proceedings of the Annual Centre for Health Systems and Technology (CHeST) Symposium: Improving Healthcare with Emerging Technologies. Retrieved from https://www.otago.ac.nz/healthsystems/symposium/index.html

2019

Journal - Research Article

Nicholas, G., Foote, J., Kainz, K., Midgley, G., Prager, K., & Zurbriggen, C. (2019). Towards a heart and soul for co-creative research practice: A systemic approach. Evidence & Policy, 15(3), 353-370. doi: 10.1332/174426419x15578220630571

Beaton, A., Manuel, C., Tapsell, J., Foote, J., Oetzel, J. G., & Hudson, M. (2019). He Pikinga Waiora: Supporting Māori health organisations to respond to pre-diabetes. International Journal for Equity in Health, 18, 3. doi: 10.1186/s12939-018-0904-z

2018

Chapter in Book - Research

Foote, J., Hepi, M., Rogers-Koroheke, M., & Taimona, H. (2018). Supporting indigenous environmental health action: A vignette. In J. McIntyre-Mills, N. Romm & Y. Corcoran-Nantes (Eds.), Balancing individualism and collectivism: Social and environmental justice. (pp. 387-393). Cham, Switzerland: Springer. doi: 10.1007/978-3-319-58014-2_18

Journal - Research Article

Hepi, M., Foote, J., Makey, L., Badham, M., & Te Huna, A. (2018). Enabling mātauranga-informed management of the Kaipara Harbour, Aotearoa New Zealand. New Zealand Journal of Marine & Freshwater Research, 52(4), 497-510. doi: 10.1080/00288330.2018.1521845

Conference Contribution - Verbal presentation and other Conference outputs

Mitchell, S., Macmillan, A., Priest, P., Morgaine, K., & Foote, J. (2018, December). Understanding AMR in New Zealand. Verbal presentation at the 4th One Health Aotearoa (OHA) Symposium, Wellington, New Zealand.

2017

Journal - Research Article

Finsterwalder, J., Foote, J., Nicholas, G., Taylor, A., Hepi, M., Baker, V., & Dayal, N. (2017). Conceptual underpinnings for transformative research in a service ecosystems context to resolve social issues: Framework foundations and extensions. Service Industries Journal, 37(11/12), 766-782. doi: 10.1080/02642069.2017.1351550

Hepi, M., Foote, J., Finsterwalder, J., Moana-o-Hinerangi, Carswell, S., & Baker, V. (2017). An integrative transformative service framework to improve engagement in a social service ecosystem: The case of He Waka Tapu. Journal of Services Marketing, 31(4/5), 423-437. doi: 10.1108/JSM-06-2016-0222

Turner, J. A., Williams, T., Nicholas, G., Foote, J., Rijswijk, K., Barnard, T., … Horita, A. (2017). Triggering system innovation in agricultural innovation systems: Initial insights from a community for change in New Zealand. Outlook on Agriculture, 46(2), 125-130. doi: 10.1177/0030727017708500

Journal - Research Other

Oetzel, J., Scott, N., Hudson, M., Masters-Awatere, B., Rarere, M., Foote, J., … Ehau, T. (2017). Implementation framework for chronic disease intervention effectiveness in Māori and other indigenous communities. Globalization & Health, 13, 69. doi: 10.1186/s12992-017-0295-8

Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Full paper

Robson, M., Bammer, G., Barker, P., Foote, J., Greenhalgh, S., Haremate, G., … von Pein, T. (2017). The Collaboration Lab: The transformative role of collaboration in managing our land and water. In L. D. Currie & M. J. Hedley (Eds.), Proceedings of the 30th Annual Fertilizer and Lime Research Centre (FLRC) Workshop [Occasional Report No. 30]. [Full Paper]

2016

Journal - Research Article

Winstanley, A., Ahuriri-Driscoll, A., Hepi, M., Baker, V., & Foote, J. (2016). Understanding the impact of democratic logics on participatory resource decision-making in New Zealand. Local Environment, 21(10), 1171-1184. doi: 10.1080/13549839.2015.1127218

Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Full paper

Turner, J. A., Williams, T., Nicholas, G., Foote, J., Rijswijk, K., Barnard, T., … Horita, A. (2016). Triggering system innovation in agricultural innovation systems: Initial insights from a Community for Change in New Zealand. Proceedings of the 12th European International Farming Systems Association (IFSA) Symposium. Retrieved from https://www.harper-adams.ac.uk/events/ifsa/

Commissioned Report for External Body

Rogers-Koroheke, M., Taimona, H., Clark, A., Hepi, M., & Foote, J. (2016). Tukua te wai kia rere: Evaluation report. Commissioned by Hokianga Health Enterprise Turst. Christchurch, New Zealand: Institute of Environmental Science and Research Limited. 26p.

Foote, J., Baker, V., Hepi, M., Nicholas, G., Moana-o-Hinerangi, Carswell, S., … Taueetia-Su’a, T. (2016). Research to improve the up-take of service by people considered hard to reach: Synthesis of findings and a practical guide for service innovation. Commissioned by Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment. The Institute of Environmental Science and Research Limited. 8p.

Hepi, M., Moana-o-Hinerangi, Foote, J., & Carswell, S. (2016). Making services reachable: He Waka Tapu case study. Commissioned by He Waka Tapu. The Institute of Environmental Science and Research Limited. 59p.

2015

Commissioned Report for External Body

Foote, J., Carswell, S., Wood, D., & Nicholas, G. (2015). Measuring the effectiveness of ‘whole-of-system’ response to prevent family violence. Commissioned by Superu. Christchurch, New Zealand: Institute of Environmental Science and Research Limited. 80p.

2014

Commissioned Report for External Body

Foote, J., Taylor, A., Nicholas, G., Carswell, S., Wood, D., Winstanley, A., & Hepi, M. (2014). Toward a transformed system to address child abuse and family violence in New Zealand. Commissioned by The Glenn Inquiry. Institute of Environmental Science and Research Limited. 150p.

Foote, J., Taylor, A., Carswell, S., Nicholas, G., Wood, D., Winstanley, A., & Hepi, M. (2014). Selecting interventions to reduce family violence and child abuse in New Zealand. Commissioned by The Glenn Inquiry. Institute of Environmental Science and Research Limited. 63p.

Foote, J., Hepi, M., & Nicholas, G. (2014). An evaluation of the reorientation of child and adolescent oral health sciences. Commissioned by Ministry of Health. Institute of Environmental Science and Research Limited. 72p.

2013

Journal - Research Article

Midgley, G., Cavana, R. Y., Brocklesby, J., Foote, J. L., Wood, D. R. R., & Ahuriri-Driscoll, A. (2013). Towards a new framework for evaluating systemic problem structuring methods. European Journal of Operational Research, 229(1), 143-154. doi: 10.1016/j.ejor.2013.01.047

2007

Journal - Research Article

Hepi, M., Foote, J., Marino, M., Rogers, M., & Taimona, H. (2007). "Koe wai hoki koe?!", or "Who are you?!": Issues of trust in cross-cultural collaborative research. Kōtuitui, 2(2), 37-53. doi: 10.1080/1177083X.2007.9522423

Foote, J. L., Gregor, J. E., Hepi, M. C., Baker, V. E., Houston, D. J., & Midgley, G. (2007). Systemic problem structuring applied to community involvement in water conservation. Journal of the Operational Research Society, 58(5), 645-654. doi: 10.1057/palgrave.jors.2602248

Midgley, G., Ahuriri-Driscoll, A., Foote, J., Hepi, M., Taimona, H., Rogers-Koroheke, M., … Wood, D. (2007). Practitioner identity in systemic intervention: Reflections on the promotion of environmental health through Māori community development. Systems Research & Behavioral Science, 24(2), 233-247. doi: 10.1002/sres.827

2004

Journal - Research Article

Foote, J. L., North, N. H., & Houston, D. J. (2004). Towards a systemic understanding of a hospital waiting list. Journal of Health Organization & Management, 18(3), 140-154. doi: 10.1108/14777260410548400

2001

Awarded Doctoral Degree

Foote, J. L. (2001). Towards a systemic understanding of hospital waiting list: Boundaries, meaning and power (PhD). Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand. Retrieved from http://hdl.handle.net/10179/2158

Teaching Responsibilities

Supervision

Current supervision

PhD

Completed

DBA

Completed

MCom

MA

Completed

Research Interests

Externally funded projects (current)

Publications

2025

Journal - Research Other

2024

Journal - Research Article

Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Full paper

Conference Contribution - Verbal presentation and other Conference outputs

2022

Journal - Research Article

Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract

2021

Journal - Research Article

Journal - Research Other

Conference Contribution - Verbal presentation and other Conference outputs

2020

Journal - Research Article

Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract

2019

Journal - Research Article

2018

Chapter in Book - Research

Journal - Research Article

Conference Contribution - Verbal presentation and other Conference outputs

2017

Journal - Research Article

Journal - Research Other

Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Full paper

2016

Journal - Research Article

Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Full paper

Commissioned Report for External Body

2015

Commissioned Report for External Body

2014

Commissioned Report for External Body

2013

Journal - Research Article

2007

Journal - Research Article

2004

Journal - Research Article

2001

Awarded Doctoral Degree

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